March 23, 2007

Bob Woolmer: The Full Statement

Here's the full police statement on the murder of Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan team coach:

"Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen of the local and international media.

"Consistent with our approach from the time
Pakistani Cricket Coach, Mr Robert Woolmer was found in his hotel room
on Sunday, March 18, the Jamaica Constabulary Force has updated the
media on all developments concerning our investigations of this case.

"The Jamaican Police are in a position to inform that
it is now in possession of the official post-mortem report from the
government pathologist who conducted the autopsy on the late Mr
Woolmer.

"The pathologist report is now available and
states that Mr Woolmer's death was due to asphyxia as a result of
manual strangulation. In these circumstances, the matter of Mr Robert
Woolmer's death is now being treated by the Jamaica Police as a case of
murder.

"Steps are being taken to conclude these
investigations which include collecting statements from all persons who
in the opinion of the police can be of assistance to these
investigations.

"In due course further announcements will be made as to the progress our investigations of Mr Woolmer's murder.

"The JCF is making an appeal to anyone who may
have information that would help us to identify Bob Woolmer's killer or
killers to come forward in order that his wife, Gill and his family can
begin the process of healing.

"It is our belief that those associated with or
having access to Mr Woolmer may have vital information that would
assist this inquiry. We appeal to these individuals to come forward now
to assist us with our investigation.

"Our condolences go out to Gill, Bob's widow and their sons, friends and members of the Pakistan team."

Bob Woolmer: Murdered

You what? Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan cricket coach, was murdered?Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan cricket coach, was strangled in his hotel
room "in extraordinary and evil circumstances", the British officer
leading the Jamaican police inquiry into his death announced late last
night.

There are unconfirmed reports that an arrest has been made in connection with his death.

Deputy
Commissioner Mark Shields, formerly of Scotland Yard, said that Mr
Woolmer, 58, was murdered in the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, the
Jamaican capital, some time between Saturday evening and Sunday morning.

A
central mystery was that there was no evidence of forced entry into the
room and relatively few marks on the former England batsman's body.

"There were no real visible signs externally... There was little evidence of a struggle," he said.

I know that there is huge betting on cricket in Pakistan but it's difficult to think that he would have been involved. Some disgruntled punter after the loss to Ireland?

February 01, 2007

Wrestlers and Herpes

Now wait a minute, wait a minute. I realize that wrestling can be rather homoerotic (think that scene with Oliver Reed wrestling naked in the movie Tom Jones) but an outbreak of herpes amongst wrestlers?

An outbreak of a contagious rash called herpes gladiatorum among
Minnesota high school wrestlers led the state to suspend matches and
halt contact practices, authorities said on Wednesday.

The
eight-day suspension affecting 7,500 wrestlers on 262 teams was the
first time a U.S. state's entire high school program in a sport has
been shut down, authorities said.

The Minnesota State High School
League acted after 24 wrestlers from 10 schools contracted the rash,
which was first noticed and spread at a tournament in December.